This is an AP story datelined Memphis, TN I found through my email provider. Unfortunately there was not a link to the AP website for me to pass along. I've inserted my thoughts in red. I look forward to all comments.
By ERIK SCHELZIG
A nationwide review by The Associated Press found that over the last two years, 24 states, mostly in the South and West, have passed 47 new laws loosening gun restrictions. YAHOO!
Among other things, legislatures have allowed firearms to be carried in cars, made it illegal to ask job candidates whether they own a gun, and expanded agreements that make permits to carry handguns in one state valid in another.
The trend is attributed in large part to a push by the National Rifle Association. The NRA, which for years has blocked attempts in Washington to tighten firearms laws, has ramped up its efforts at the state level to chip away at gun restrictions. Good for the NRA, but I believe part of this trend can be explained by ordinary citizens voicing their desires.
"This is all a coordinated approach to respect that human, God-given right of self defense by law-abiding Americans," says Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist. "We'll rest when all 50 states allow and respect the right of law-abiding people to defend themselves from criminal attack."
Among the recent gun-friendly laws:
- Arizona, Florida, Louisiana and Utah have made it illegal for businesses to bar their employees from storing guns in cars parked on company lots. Now this needs to be expanded to include State agencies as well as public and private businesses.
- Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Virginia have made some or all handgun permit information confidential. With identity theft becoming more prevalent I'd like to see all information be confidential.
- Montana, Arizona and Kansas have allowed handgun permits to be issued to people who have had their felony convictions expunged or their full civil rights restored. Since expungement or the restoration of civil rights is a step taken after careful consideration I don't have a problem with this one. Under Federal Law convicted felons, under any circumstances are not allowed to BUY firearms, but now they can protect themselves from harm.
- Tennessee and Montana have passed laws that exempt weapons made and owned in-state from federal restrictions. Tennessee is the home to Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, the maker of a .50-caliber shoulder-fired rifle that the company says can shoot bullets up to five miles and is banned in California. { I am told that since CA banned citizens owning this particular rifle, the owner of Barrett Firearms has refused to sell arms to any CA law enforcement agency}
The AP compiled the data on new laws from groups ranging from the Legal Community Against Violence, which advocates gun control, to the NRA.
Public attitudes toward gun control have shifted strongly over the past 50 years, according to Gallup polling. In 1959, 60 percent of respondents said they favored a ban on handguns except for "police and other authorized persons." By last year, Gallup's most recent crime survey found 69 percent opposed such a ban. Crime wasn't as severe 50 years ago. As crime rates increase more citizens NEED to be armed to protect themselves and their families.
The NRA boasts that almost all states grant handgun permits to people with clean criminal and psychological records. In 1987, only 10 states did. Only Wisconsin, Illinois and the District of Columbia now prohibit the practice entirely. Recent court decisions have made it legal to OWN a handgun in D.C., so pregress is being made there.
While some states have tightened gun laws during the same period, the list of new restrictive laws is much shorter. In 2009 alone, more than three times as many laws were passed to make it easier on gun owners.
New Jersey's 2009 law limiting people to one handgun purchase per month is the most notable of the more restrictive laws. Other examples this year include Maryland's ban on concealed weapons on public transit and Maine's vote to give public universities and colleges the power to regulate firearms on campus.
The most contentious of Tennessee's new gun laws was one allowing handguns in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. It took effect in July after lawmakers overrode a veto by the governor. Last month, a Nashville judge struck down the law as unconstitutionally vague, but supporters have vowed to pass it again.
A similar Arizona law that took effect in September allows people with concealed-weapons permits to bring their guns into bars and restaurants that haven't posted signs banning them.
While Tennessee's law was in place, many bars chose not to let customers bring guns in. Likewise, more than 70 communities have opted out of allowing guns in parks.
"People go in there and start drinking and then they want to start a fight. What are they going to do if they got a gun in their hand?" said Larry Speck, 69, who works at an auto repair shop in Memphis. "I've got a gun permit and I'm not carrying mine in there even if they have a law." Mixing alcohol and guns is NEVER a good idea.
Chattanooga retiree Ken Hasse, 71, said he worries about the possible consequences of allowing people to carry their guns in places like parks. "It's going to tempt somebody to use one," he said. Because we all know a gun can control the owner's mind. Bad gun, Bad, bad gun.
Supporters of expanding handgun rights argue that people with state-issued permits are far less likely to commit crimes, and that more lawfully armed people cause a reduction in crime. Opponents fear that more guns could lead to more crime. Guns in the hands of CRIMINALS lead to crime because Criminals commit more offenses. Guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens protect and sometimes even prevent crime.
Academics are divided on the effects of liberalized handgun laws, and determining the impact is complicated by the move in several states to close handgun permit records. Read John Lott, an economist, on the impact of liberalized handgun laws.
A Violence Policy Center project has mined news reports to find that more than 100 people have been killed by holders of handgun-carry permits since 2007, including nine law enforcement officers. The project originally intended to list all gun crimes by permit holders, but there were too many to keep track of, Rand said. How many of those 100 people killed were in the act of perpetrating a crime against the permit holder? And why should the millions of law-abiding permit holders be penalized because of this. Also, how many of these "too many" involved the use of a handgun? The Violence Policy Center is opposed to CHLs.
The flood of legislative victories in Tennessee after many years of frustration now has some gun backers aiming for a whole new level of freedom: No permits at all. I'm worried that not requiring permits at all would effect felons with handguns prosecutions.
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Associated Press writers Lucas L. Johnson II in Memphis and Bill Poovey in Chattanooga contributed to this report.
